How Unresolved Trauma Can Lead to Addiction Relapse

The cost of rehab is one major obstacle that stands in the way of people seeking help for addiction. Many people who seek treatment do so because they are suffering from a severe addiction, and, as a result, may be low on money and financial resources. After all, many people who suffer from addiction spend excess money on their substances and get themselves in poor financial shape.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, longer treatment programs are directly associated with positive treatment outcomes. In fact, they suggest that a 90-day program is the minimum amount of time a person should receive treatment for substance abuse.[1] While 90 days may not seem like a long time in the grand scheme of things, 90 days is a long time to be responsible for paying for treatment. And, the longer you spend in rehab, the more expensive you can expect your bill to be.

This leaves many people like you wondering whether or not your insurance will cover rehab in Massachusetts. While each person’s insurance coverage varies, the good news is all health insurance providers are required to cover substance abuse treatment and mental health services.

Why Does Trauma Lead to Addiction?

Traumatic events shape the way you think, feel, and behave. Whether you have childhood trauma from abuse or neglect or more recent trauma from things like violence, natural disaster, or assault, traumatic experiences stick with you and can influence who you become. Trauma is so impactful that it can even cause changes in brain structure and increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine.[3]

Trauma can lead to a variety of mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders. It can also increase the risk of drug and alcohol abuse.

When you don’t have a healthy coping outlet, especially for something as impactful as trauma, you will naturally seek out another way to alleviate your symptoms. People who experience trauma may abuse drugs and alcohol to cope with their emotional distress. They may also self-medicate to cope with symptoms of anxiety or depression.

How Does Trauma Impact Your Recovery?

Recovery isn’t just about giving up drugs and alcohol–it’s also about overcoming the root cause of your addiction. If trauma is the driving force behind your substance abuse like it is for so many people, you may require trauma-informed care or treatment involving trauma therapy.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a patient’s life experiences in order to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, health outcomes, and provider and staff wellness.[4] If trauma is left untreated, it could result in drug or alcohol relapse.

Many therapies may be involved in treating trauma and addiction, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Trauma-focused CBT
• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Exposure therapy
• Emotionally-focused therapy
• Family therapy
• Group therapy
• Art therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy

Understanding How Unresolved Trauma Can Lead to Addiction Relapse

Just because you stop using drugs and alcohol doesn’t mean your trauma will go away. If you are sober, but haven’t addressed your trauma, you may continue experiencing anxiety, emotional distress, chronic stress, and depression. These feelings may eventually become too much for you to handle, prompting you to return to a cycle of self-medication and drug abuse.

Lingering effects of trauma that you may experience include:

• Mood swings
• Erratic behavior
• Fear, nervousness, or anxiety
• Agitation and irritability
• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Avoiding certain people, places, or things that remind you of trauma
• Flashbacks
• Difficulty developing and sustaining healthy relationships

The effects of trauma may lessen over time, but they don’t go away on their own. When someone is struggling with PTSD and alcoholism, for example, the trauma still exists. It may manifest differently over time or be triggered by certain situations, but it is always there, an ever-present weight that can feel impossible to escape.

People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to develop substance use disorders compared to those without PTSD. Trauma can change the brain in ways that make individuals more vulnerable to addiction and can also increase their risk of relapse.

At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we understand the complex relationship between trauma and addiction. Our experienced team of professionals is trained to address both issues simultaneously, providing our clients with a comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment plan that addresses their unique needs.

How to Heal From Trauma

Healing from trauma looks different for everyone. During therapy, your therapist will assess your needs and help you heal in ways that are effective for you. Your therapist may also suggest helpful coping strategies, such as:

• Connect with others, especially with those who have shared experiences with you
• Exercise
• Find ways to relax, like yoga, stretching, massage, deep breathing, or meditation
• Find an expressive hobby that you enjoy such as art or music
• Write in a journal about your day or your emotions

Most importantly, it’s crucial to be patient and forgiving with yourself. Healing takes time. You must acknowledge that you have experienced trauma, but that you are worth more than your trauma. Take your therapist’s suggestions and take your recovery one day at a time.